Pennsylvania Lottery Encourages Responsible Gifting as Holiday Season Begins

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. (December 1, 2025) – The Pennsylvania Lottery today announced its participation in the 2025 Gift Responsibly Campaign, joining lotteries and community organizations across North America to raise awareness about the risks of underage lottery use. The campaign is organized by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and supported by the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL).

Research shows that early exposure to gambling during childhood is strongly linked to a higher risk of developing gambling problems later in life. Lottery tickets and Scratch-Off games are often a child’s first exposure to gambling, sometimes given by adults who may not realize the potential risks.

“During the holidays, it can be tempting to include lottery tickets as gifts,” said Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko. “While Lottery games provide fun and excitement for adults, they are not appropriate for children. Joining the Gift Responsibly Campaign gives us the opportunity to remind families to keep lottery products out of kids’ hands and to promote safe and responsible play during the holiday season.”

As part of the 2025 Gift Responsibly Campaign, the Pennsylvania Lottery will share messages across its social media channels and website to educate the public about the risks of youth gambling. Lottery retailers and employees will receive guidance on responsible gifting, and the Lottery will promote available resources, including the 1-800-GAMBLER helpline, for anyone experiencing gambling-related harms.

“Youth gambling is a growing risk that too often goes overlooked. The Gift Responsibly Campaign plays a vital role in helping families and communities understand the importance of keeping lottery products out of kids’ hands,” said Derek Longmeier, president of NCPG’s Board of Directors. “We’re grateful to the Pennsylvania Lottery for joining this effort and working to expand education and awareness to protect young people from gambling-related harm.”

Founded in the early 2000s, the Gift Responsibly Campaign was created to reduce early childhood exposure to gambling and prevent the long-term consequences associated with underage play. The Pennsylvania Lottery has received Level 3 Responsible Gaming Certification from the World Lottery Association and holds iCAP certification from the National Council on Problem Gambling, the highest standard for responsible online gambling in the United States. For more information, visit the Lottery’s responsible gambling page at palottery.com.

About Us:

The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery to direct all proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since ticket sales began in 1972, it has contributed more than $37.2 billion to fund transportation, care services, prescription assistance, and local services including senior centers and meals. The Pennsylvania Lottery operates as a bureau within the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.

Visit the Winners and Benefits pages at palottery.com to review how much money each county receives in Lottery prizes and funding to benefit older Pennsylvanians.

Players must be 18 or older. Please play responsibly. Call 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) for help with a compulsive gambling problem.

Visit palottery.com for winning numbers, rules, chances of winning, and to join the VIP Players Club to play online or enter for second chances to win. Install our Official App, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn. Use the hashtag #palottery to share your messages with us.